No.18212, Private, Charles William PALMER
Aged 33
|
Charles William Palmer was born in Mildenhall on 24th September 1883,(Mildenhall Q4-1883 4A:675) son of Ebenezer and Emily Mary Ann PALMER (née FINCHAM). Yet another case of how a differing order of given names can cause much confusion. Given the details from Du Ruvigny, this has to be the right man. He is William on Beck Row memorial and was also W Palmer on Mildenhall memorial originally 1891 census...Aged 7, he was at Beck Road with his father Ebenezer PALMER [29] farm labourer; his mother Emily M [29] and great aunt Matilda DENNIS [63]. All were born in Mildenhall. 1901 census...Aged 17, a labourer, he was at Kenny Hill Road, "part of Mildenhall called West Row", with his parents (father now a horse keeper on farm) ; brother John [7](Ebenezer John); sisters Violet [4] and Olive M [1] and great Aunt Matilda DENNIS. His new siblings were all born in Mildenhall. 1911 census... Aged 27, a farm labourer, he was at Beck Row with his parents; brothers John (farm labourer) and Charles H [9] born Mildenhall, and sister Olive May. The naming of a brother as Charles H may be a reason for William coming into use as his first name and Henry for the other, a not uncommon happening. On the pension card his parents were at Sandy Hill, Beck Row |
|
He enlisted in Newmarket. De Ruvigny;s Roll of Honour has:- "PALMER, CHARLES WILLIAM, Private, No.18212, 11th (Service) Battn, the Suffolk Regt., eldest s. of Ebenezer Palmer, Beck Row, Mildenhall, by his wife, Emily Mary Ann, dau. of Charles Fincham: b. Mildenhall, co.Suffolk, 24 Sept.1883; educ.Kenny Hill Council School; was a farm labourer; enlisted in the Suffolk Regt. 25 Jan.1915; served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from March 1916; was wounded in the advance on Albert 1 July following, and invalided home; rejoined his Regt 4 Oct. of the same year and was killed in action 28 April, 1917. Buried where he fell; unm." Since he is named on the Arras memorial it must be that his grave was lost in later fighting, although his "personal effects" entry says death presumed on or since 28-4-1917. The action where he was killed was the attack on the chemical works at Rouex. from Murphy and the war diary:- 28th April - 4.25 a.m. Barrage commenced, 4:27 a.m. battalion advanced but was held up and driven back by very considerable hostile machine gun fire from a trench which had been entirely missed by our barrage. What was left of the battalion formed up in our front line. 5:30 a.m. Major Tuck went up to our front line to reorganise our defences. In the front line were 5 officers, 300 other ranks (including 2 officers and 60 other ranks from 16th Royal Scots. 9:45 a.m. The enemy counter attacked from Roeux, capturing MOUNT PLEASANT WOOD and part of CEYLON TRENCH. 10 a.m. All communications with the front line were cut. The enemy driven out of CEYLON TRENCH and MOUNT PLEASANT WOOD. 10 p.m. The battalion moved out of front line trench & support line to enable the heavy artillery to bombard the chemical works. They moved back into the front line at midnight. On this horrific day for the 11th Suffolks, CWGC records 106 killed of which 82 have no known grave. The Bury Free Press of 23rd June 1917 reported:- BECK ROW SOLDIER MISSING. Official news has been received by Mr.and Mrs. Ebenezer Palmer, Beck Row, that their son, Prvt William Charles Palmer, Suffolk Regiment was reported missing on April 28th. They only received the news last week. He was the eldest son. Last year, on July 1st he was wounded in one arm. The parents will be glad to hear form any of their son's comrades,who can give them any information concerning their son. The Bury Free Press of 2nd February 1918 reported:- TWO BECK ROW BROTHERS - ONE DEAD AND ANOTHER WOUNDED. After waiting nearly ten months since their eldest son was reported missing,Mr.and Mrs. Ebenezer Palmer, Beck Row, Mildenhall, are now officially notified that Prvt Charles William Palmer,11th Suffolk Regiment, is believed to have died on or about April 28th, 1917, the time he was reported missing. He was an unmarried man and 34 years of age. Another son, Prvt Ebenezer John Palmer, 9th Suffolk Regiment, has been wounded in his left leg and is in hospital at Westgate and appears to be making satisfactory progress. Both were in France.
photo: Commonwealth War Graves Commission and originally on the memorial in Mildenhall click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
